4X4 that runs on both Petrol and Diesel

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Thu 21 Mar 2002 20:21
4X4 that runs on both Petrol and Diesel - Chad.R
Replying to Steve Boreham's post earlier this morning regarding exporting 4X4 to Sri Lanka, I remembered an incident from my youth;

Colombo, early '80s;

A friend of the family came to visit and knowing both my father and I were motoring enthusiasts happened to mention whether we had seen the new 4X4 that had just been introduced that runs on both Petrol and Diesel? We both looked at each other in puzzlement; I remember debating with him the possibilities of running an engine "dual-fuel". The discussion went on and on until we were thoroughly perplexed at how any manufacturer could achieve this without actually using 2 separate engines or changing the properties of the fuel itself.

Anyway, we set about looking for this mysterious vehicle, only to come across the then newly introduced (to Sri Lanka) Nissan Patrol; Unfortunately our friend?s English wasn?t that great ? he had mistaken the word Patrol for petrol and also seeing the word diesel on the rear of the Nissan had put 2 and 2 together and made??...

Chad.R
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Fri 22 Mar 2002 09:29
Re: 4X4 that runs on both Petrol and Diesel - Mike H
Bit like the Skoda Rapide from a few decades ago?
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Fri 22 Mar 2002 10:36
Re: 4X4 that runs on both Petrol and Diesel - David W
Actually Mikle there was a version of the Skoda Rapide that Autocar said was a budget Porsche and great fun. I kept the magazine and trip across it now and again in the "research box" with a shake of the head.

David
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Fri 22 Mar 2002 12:31
Re: 4X4 that runs on both Petrol and Diesel - limes
My old landlord told me that he modified a post war car to run on paraffin (which is very close to diesel I think). The fuel line somehow ran by the exhaust outlet to heat up the paraffin enough that it would vapourise/thin enough to get through the carburretor o.k. .....I'm not sure about the safety issues.
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Fri 22 Mar 2002 12:47
Re: 4X4 that runs on both Petrol and Diesel - John S
Ah, pinched the idea from tractors running on TVO I guess!

Regards

John
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Fri 22 Mar 2002 14:10
Re: 4X4 that runs on both Petrol and Diesel - Mike H
Actually, I've got a lot of respect for Skoda, I'm well aware that they were for many years at the forefront of technology. Having read the reviews on the Superb, I would certainly put it at or near the top of my shopping list if I were in the market for a new car.
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Fri 22 Mar 2002 15:40
Re: 4X4 that runs on both Petrol and Diesel - Honest John
I did some work for Haymarket onece and the then editor of a used car mag called 'Car Choice' got very keen on a Skoda Rapid. He took me home in it once and I tried to stop him driving it up our close in case the neigbours saw me emerging. He insisted on driving me to my door. As revenge for this, I sent him a package labelled 'Special Skoda Rapide Headgear'. It contained a large brown paper bag with eye holes.

HJ
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